Invalid bed attachment



Aug. 7, 1934.

F. P. STEELE INVALID BED ATTACHMENT Filed Oct. 27. 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 7, 1934. F. P. STEELE 1,968,970

INVALID BED ATTACHMENT Filed Oct. 27. 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 7, 1934 UNITED Tues INVALID BED ATTACHMENT Frank P. Steele, De Witt, Nebr.

Application October 27,

1 Claim.

This invention relates to an invalid bed attachment and it is an object of the invention to provide a device of this kind including in its construction a head member supported for tilting or swinging movement together with a mechanism associated with such portion for swinging or adjusting the same as may be re quired.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this kind which is preferably adapted to be placed below a mattress and which can be employed to readily convert an ordinary bed stead into an invalid bed.

The invention consists in the details of con struction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved invalid bed attachment whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:--

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation illustrating an invalid bed attachment constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 illustrating an attachment constructed in accordance with a further embodiment of my invention;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a view in top plan of an end portion of the attachment as herein disclosed;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the attachment as herein disclosed with the head portion in a raised or lifted position.

As particularly illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings, my improved attachment in its general construction comprises a frame F of desired dimensions, the side members 1 and each of the end members 2 being of angle formation. As is illustrated in Figure 1, the frame F is of such dimensions as to allow the same to be readily placed from above upon a conventional type of coil bed spring S or, as illustrated in Figure 2, the frame F has depending from each of the side members 1' adjacent the ends thereof the legs 3 of desired length. Each of these legs 3 has its outer or free end portion formed to provide a foot 4 to engage from above a side 1932, Serial No. 639,892 (Cl. 5-49) rail 5 of a bed structure whereby the frame F is supported in desired position.

The frame F as well as the frame F has its side and end members preferably connected by the wire strands is after the fashion of a bed fabric and coacting with either of the frames is a tilting portion or lift L preferably arranged at the head portion of the frame although if the requirements of practice should necessitate, said portion or lift L may be employed with 85 equal facility at the foot portion of the bed.

The lift L, as herein disclosed, is substantially in the form of a U and has its side members 6 and its outer end or cross member 7 of angle formation, said lift L when in its lowermost position telescopically receiving the adjacent end portion of the frame F or F. The members 6 and '7 of the lift L also have operatively connected thereto the wire fabric 3 or the like.

The side depending flange a of each of the .75 side members 6 of the lift L has its free end portion pivotally connected, as at 9, with a depending fiange b of the frame F or the flange 2) of the frame F whereby the lift L may have the requisite swinging movement toward or from the frame.

The pivoted end portions of the members 6 of the lift L have depending therefrom the angularly related arms 10 and the outer or free extremity of each of the arms 10 carries an out-- .85 standing block or member 11 secured to its arm 10 inc. manner to permit said member or block 11 to rotate.

Threaded through each of the members or blocks 11 is an end portion of an elongated :99 shank 12, the opposite end portion of which be- 7 ing disposed through the inner member 14 of an angular bracket 15 extending outwardly and laterally from the adjacent end portion of a member 6 of the frame and also extending be- 195 yond the adjacent end of the frame. This shank 12 has fixed to its outer end portion a gear 16 meshing with a gear 1'7 carried by a shaft 18. This shaft 18 is rotatably supported by the second or outer members 19 of the bracket 15. Each end portion 20 of the shaft 18, as herein disclosed, is angular in cross section so that an operating crank 21 may be readily engaged therewith to effect the desired rotation of the shaft 18. It is also to be noted that the brackets i 15 and the shaft 18 are substantially coplanar with the frame F with the shaft disposed outwardly of but closely adjacent to said end of the frame.

Upon rotation of the shaft 18 in one direction r 1 the shanks 12 will turn in a manner to retract the arms 10 and thereby raise the lift L as desired, while opposite rotation of the shaft 18 will eifect a lowering of the lift L. When the shaft 18 is inactive the shanks 12 provide means for effectively holding the lift L in its desired raised adjustment.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that an invalid bed attachment constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification Without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as. limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:-

An invalid bed attachment comprising a frame adapted to be supported freely from above upon a bed structure and having side members, a substantially U-shaped lift having its side members pivotally engaged with the side members of the frame, outstanding brackets carried by the side members of the frame adjacent to an end of the frame and disposed laterally from said side members and extending beyond the adjacent end of the frame, a shaft extending transversely of the frame and rotatably supported by the extended portions of said brackets, said brackets and shaft being substantially coplanar with the frame, shanks rotatably supported by the brackets, each of said shanks having operative engagement with a side member of the lift to raise or lower the lift upon requisite rotation of the shank, and an operative connection between the shanks and the shaft for rotating said shanks in unison to raise or lower the lift.

FRANK P. STEELE. 

